You’re decorating your room, but you feel stuck between lined and blackout curtains when it comes to curtains. Choosing them even feels like guesswork when you do no know their technical difference. And you can end up wasting money on the features that you might not even need.
All the curtains seem the same until you start living with them. Your one wrong choice means you end up living in a space that is too stuffed, with faded furniture or sleepless nights. And the worst — no privacy at all! That’s why Fixit Design has got you an analysis of the difference between lined & blackout curtains, so you can have a home that looks great and is highly comfortable as well.
What Are Lined & Blackout Curtains?
Before we move ahead and compare all the features and functionalities of lined and blackout curtains, let’s understand the basic difference between them.
Lined Curtains
Lined curtains are made using decorative fabric like cotton, linen or velvet, where an additional layer of fabric lining is attached or sewn behind the main decorative panel. For the curtain lining materials, fabrics like polyester, cotton or cotton-poly blend are used as they enhance the shape, drape and weight of curtains.
These curtain liners, in addition to enhancing interior decor by adding a high-end look, offer many other benefits too. They protect the curtain fabric from fading, and meanwhile, they also offer moderate light filtering and some thermal insulation as well.
Blackout Curtains
Curtains with blackout or room-darkening capacities are made with dense and tightly woven fabrics, where they often include multiple layers for the total blackout effect. Plus, they also use additional layers of acrylic or rubber blackout coating and foam backing, which are usually sandwiched between the main fabric and the blackout lining.
Blackout curtains are majorly different from lined drapes because of their additional foam, acrylic, or rubber coating that lined curtains do not have. The main purpose of these blackout coatings is to deliver 95% to 100% of light cutting and a superior level of thermal insulation. Plus, they also help dampen all outside noises, leading to peaceful interiors.
Read Also: Difference Between Room Darkening And Blackout Curtains
Lined Vs. Blackout Curtains: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Till now, you might have understood the main difference between the composition of both these lined and blackout curtains. Now let’s have a side-by-side comparison of the benefits and features of both these curtain types.
Light Control
One of the very features that we want from our curtains is their light control. But “you need light control to what extent” is a question that would help you choose between the lined and blackout curtains as both of these offer different light control levels.
Lined curtains can dim the light of a space from 70% to 90%, based on the type of fabric, along with the type of liners used. At the same time, blackout window curtains can deliver a total light control from 95% to 100%, making your space pitch black.
Privacy
Privacy is another significant concern that forces us to get room-darkening or light blocking window drapes or curtains. Because no one wants the whole neighbourhood peeking in our homes, no matter its daytime or nighttime.
Just like light control, both of these curtain types offer different levels of privacy controls. Lined curtains offer a moderate level of privacy from 70% to 80%. With quality liners, they can also cut out silhouettes at night, even with the lights on. Whereas, blackout curtains UAE offer complete 100% privacy even under bright indoor lighting with no silhouettes at all.
Insulation
Have you ever noticed how your room temperature changes just by using curtains on a bright sunny day? That’s because curtains tend to provide a basic thermal barrier for your space, protecting it from harsh sunlight and UV rays.
Lined curtains offer a moderate or basic level of thermal barrier. You can get 50% to 60% thermal insulation in your room with your lined curtains. But blackout curtains offer 80% to 90% insulation. It’s because they use acrylic, foam or rubber layers, which are known to have excellent thermal capacities.
Noise Reduction
At some places, there are so many noises that actually disturb one’s daily routine and activities. Do you know that you can reduce this noise through your curtains? The type of curtain material you choose for your space can make a significant difference in the levels of peace.
Curtains with good quality liners can offer up to 40% noise dampening. But if you use quilted liners, they might help you reach up to 50% nose reduction. Similarly, blackout curtains offer substantial noise cancellation from 60% to even 75% due to their thick and dense layers.
Draping & Aesthetics
Besides all the other benefits of window curtains, the one factor that comes to the top when they’re selected is their looks. Because after all, they’re a decor element that can add character to any space.
For an elegant and sophisticated look, lined curtains work best as they offer amazing flexibility in terms of fabric design & colors. Plus, they’re less bulky in appearance, providing ease of handling. Blackout curtains have a bulkier look and are relatively heavier. Moreover, they’re limited in style as they must be made in darker and solid color fabrics.
Cost
Another significant factor that may impact your curtain choice is its cost. Lined and blackout curtains have different costs as both of these are crafted differently. Plus, their prices may increase due to customized or motorized curtain systems, depending on the materials used.
An average pair of lined curtains can cost about AED 80 to AED 150 per panel, and the price varies with the fabric and liner choice. On the other hand, an average pair of blackout curtains can range between AED 120 to AED 250. It costs more upfront due to heavier fabrics and specialized blackout lining.
Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance are highly essential to keep anything looking new for a long time. And maintenance is another factor that differentiates both of these curtain types.
Starting with lined window curtains, they’re easier to maintain than blackout ones due to their lightweight fabrics. Regular vacuum cleaning or dusting can keep them fresh for a long time. Furthermore, they can be easily washed in a machine or dry cleaned, depending on their fabric. But some liners are likely to shrink, so make sure you clean them according to the instructions.
Blackout curtains are high maintenance as they’re made of heavier fabrics, which are often hard to handle. They cannot be washed in a machine, requiring dry cleaning onl,y as their back layer can peel or crack. And if you plan on using a vacuum cleaner on them, make sure to use it carefully if the back layer is exposed.
Also read: How to Layer Sheer and Blackout Curtains?
So, Lined OR Blackout Curtains? Which One Is For You?
Understanding the basic composition and their functionalities, you might have understood till now that both these curtains are not the same and neither of them can be used alternatively. Both lined and blackout curtains serve different purposes and prove useful in different ways.
And when it comes to choosing among them, you must keep your comfort as a preference. Here are a few use cases that would help you make a smarter decision and get the comfort you deserve:
For Daytime Naps & Nurseries
If you’re looking for curtains that would make daytime naps easier for yourself or your kids, then blackout curtains are the perfect option for you. With their light and noise cancellation features, these curtains would help you get a quality sleep.
For Theater & Media Rooms
These rooms need to be pitch black for a better performance. When the theater or media room has a darker environment, it reduces the glare and offers an immersive viewing experience to the audience.
For an Extremely Hot Climate
Living in a hot region means your home is a sauna by day. And with the AC units running at their top notes means your energy bills are going to spike up. If you’ve to face the same problems, then blackout curtains can be really helpful for you. With their specialized lining, they provide thermal insulation and regulate the room environment, helping you lower your energy bills.
For a Softer & Cozy Ambiance
Want to have some light control but not a total pitch blackout? Then lined curtains are for you! They deliver a soft and reflective glow that elevates the ambiance of every room. They can be used in living rooms, dining rooms or even offices for a moderate level of light control.
Conclusion
Lined and blackout both types of curtains are completely different from each other. They are made contrastingly and meant for different uses. While selecting the curtains, make sure to prioritize your desired features and lifestyle and it will be easy to find the functionality that you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a total 100% blackout, noise-dampening, and thermal insulation, then blackout curtains can perform excellently for you. But if you want a moderately lit and airy environment, with a little bit of light filtering and easy fabric handling, then lined curtains can offer a cozy and inviting environment.
